RSS runs Eng primary schools: FORCE exposes Sangh game

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh runs few hundred of its own English medium primary schools in Delhi and elsewhere. But in Goa, it opposes government grants to the Church-run English medium schools.

This fact was exposed today by the Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE), quoting a cover story of India Today magazine, dated 25th April this year.

In Goa, the RSS-led Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch has presently waged a war against its own BJP government against its decision to continue the Congress policy of giving salary grants to over 130 Church-run English primary schools.

The BJP had come to power in 2012 by giving election promise to withdraw the grants once it comes to power.

At a press conference held in Margao, FORCE convenor Savio Lopes displayed the India Today magazine that carried a cover story on the RSS.

He said the cover story clearly states that RSS has changed its stand and its Saraswati Shishu Mandirs now run English medium primary schools.

He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the Gujarat chief minister, had introduced English as a subject at primary level.

Another surprising sign of change in the RSS's indigenist culture is the introduction of English in its Saraswati Mandir schools. Time was, the defining slogan of the RSS was 'Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan', and its leaders never tired of complaining about 'colonial' English being taught in government-funded schools. When, as Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi introduced higher-grade English as a second language in government primary schools, he met with stiff resistance from the RSS-affiliated Gujarat Vidya Bharati. The opposition was so fierce that Modi was forced to reconsider the decision. Yet today, under Mohan Bhagwat, a few hundred of the RSS's own Saraswati Shishu Mandir primary schools have begun using English as a medium of instruction. "English is no longer a taboo language in the RSS," says Manish Manjul, a senior RSS worker whose sons are studying at one such school in New Delhi. "There is a growing acceptance. If it is used along with vernacular languages, it really doesn't constitute a cultural threat."

“If this is the stand of the RSS, what are we fighting for”, asked Lopes.

However, he did not stop at that but made an allegation, claiming it to be the gameplan of the RSS in Goa.

According to him, the RSS opposition is aimed at depriving the Bahujan Samaj, the lower strata of the society, of English education.

“They are not opposed to English medium schools being opened in Goa. They are only opposed to aided schools being run in English medium. Can a common man go to unaided English schools? Doesn’t it mean that they don’t want the Bahujan Samaj to learn English?”, he asks.

While appreciating the stand the BJP-led government has taken to continue grants, Lopes has demanded to implement in the July Assembly session the cabinet decision it had taken.

The cabinet had decided to include the decision of grants to English medium schools in the Goa Education Act, as an amendment.

RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha is fully supportive of study of various languages including foreign languages but it is its considered opinion that for natural learning and to enrich cultural moorings, the education, particularly elementary education should be in mother language or in state languages recognised in our Constitution.

Language is not only the medium of communication but it is also a carrier of culture and value system. Bharat is a multilingual country. All the Bharatiya languages equally reflect national and cultural pride of our country. Although it is a merit to be multilingual but it is scientifically expedient to impart education in mother language for developing the personality. A student educated in mother language can easily grasp other languages as well. A person having elementary education in a foreign language, gets alienated from his surroundings, traditions, culture and values of life, at the same time one also loses his identity, remaining ignorant of ancient knowledge, science and literature.

Eminent thinkers like Mahamana Madanmohan Malaviya, Mahatma Gandhi, Ravindranath Thakur, Sri Maa, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and scientists like Chandrashekhar Venkat Raman, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Jagdish Chandra Basu and several prominent educationists and psychologists have opined that it would be both, natural and scientific to impart education in mother language. Various commissions constituted from time to time such as Radhakrishnan Commission, Kothari Commission etc. have also recommended for imparting education in mother language. Taking note of the significance of mother language, the United Nations also decided to observe 21st February as Mother Language Day for whole of the world.

ABPS calls upon the countrymen, including swayamsevaks to play an effective role to establish the dignity of the mother language in education, day-to-day working and public affairs to achieve all-round development, national integrity and pride. In this regard, family has an important role. Parents should have a firm resolve to impart elementary education to their children in their own language.

ABPS calls upon the Union Government and State Governments to review their present language policies and ensure effective system to impart education in mother language or in constitutionally recognised state languages and simultaneously take initiative for use of Bharatiya languages in education, administration and delivery of justice.